Good observation. If the nation had formed later when Yhwh was their exclusive or at least top god it would have been only logical to call themselves by a name that identified them as worshipers of Yhwh. El was everybody's God in Canaan.
Bethel is Cannanite god
by peacefulpete 16 Replies latest watchtower bible
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fdsjeffanthony
Why all the argument over the word "El"? El is a generic term like the word "God" we use today. Are we forgetting there is only one God? Adam, Enoch, Noah, these guys knew this only God and never preached another. The Canaanites and Babylonians obviously had to shape their pagan ideas around the extant thoughts on the original and only El, making their versions of God, El also. They worshipped the same God, because there is only one, they just were misinformed as to how to do that. Same way most of us are today.
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Narkissos
El, "father of the gods", is the supreme god of the Canaanite pantheon; which is not quite the same as "God" with capital (meaning "the one and only God"). Think of the Greek Zeus, whose name is also etymologically related to the generic idea of "god", or "divinity", but nonetheless is the proper name of one (supreme) god among others.
There is no evidence for monotheistic belief in Israel before the 6th century BC. Most of the Bible "historical" texts reconstruct history from the standpoint of the new, postexilic, monotheistic belief ("Yhwh = God"), still the old polytheistic views ("Yhwh = one god among others") show at many places.
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zarco
Karen Armstrong in her book A History of God posits that Abraham was a worshiper of El the High God of Canaan. She suggests that El is much different than Yahweh in that El is Abraham’s friend. The account in Genesis 18 shows a startling familiarity between Abraham and his god.
She also suggests that Jacob had a similar relationship with El both in his faith in the promise from El for protection wherever he would go and in the all night wrestling match between Jacob and El (angel for Witnesses).
Yahweh seems to be much different than the kind familiar god of Abraham in that he seems more distant and violent as evidenced in Yahweh’s treatment of the Egyptians during the exodus and his dealing with Moses – lightning flashes, trumpet blasts and fire. His showdown with Baal is another example of his personality.
Interestingly, the Bible writers quote Yahweh several times saying he is the God of your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob… seeming to suggest that Yahweh is trying to reinventing himself as El.
Just some food for thought. The book the History of God is a fascinating read. Sorry for resurrecting old threads, it is part of the education of Zarco. And yes, beth El mean the house of El or the Canaanite High God…..
Zarco
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Satanus
Melqart is the true god. Why has everyone left him, the poor guy??????
S
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Satanus
Ps, the wt claims that 'beth' means house. It appears to be an erroneous enterpretation.
S
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Chalam
Amos 5:4-6 (New International Version)
4 This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel:
"Seek me and live;5 do not seek Bethel,
do not go to Gilgal,
do not journey to Beersheba.
For Gilgal will surely go into exile,
and Bethel will be reduced to nothing. [ a ] "6 Seek the LORD and live,
or he will sweep through the house of Joseph like a fire;
it will devour,
and Bethel will have no one to quench it.So seek God, not Bethel.
All the best,
Stephen